An unexamined idea, to paraphrase Socrates, is not worth having and a society whose ideas are never explored for possible error may eventually find its foundations insecure. Mark Van Doren More Quotes by Mark Van Doren More Quotes From Mark Van Doren The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. Mark Van Doren education appreciation teacher It’s a curious thing. I suppose most people think of artists as impatient but I don’t know of any first-rate artist who hasn’t manifested in his career an appalling patience, a willingness to wait and to do his best now in the expectation that next year he will do better. Mark Van Doren artist years thinking Any piece of knowledge I acquire today has a value at this moment exactly proportional to my skill to deal with it. Tomorrow, when I know more, I recall that piece of knowledge and use it better. Mark Van Doren skills use knowledge Nothing in man is more serious than his sense of humor; it is the sign that he wants all the truth. Mark Van Doren serious want men The art of reading is the art of adopting the pace the author has set. Some books are fast and some are slow, but no book can be understood if it is taken at the wrong speed. Mark Van Doren taken book art There are two statements about human beings that are true: that all human beings are alike, and that all are different. On those two facts all human wisdom is founded. Mark Van Doren different wisdom two Our best chance for happiness is education. Mark Van Doren chance Respect for the Truth is an acquired taste. Mark Van Doren honesty taste truth The connectedness of things is what the educator contemplates to the limit of his capacity. No human capacity is great enough to permit a vision of the world as simple, but if the educator does not aim at the vision no one else will, and the consequences are dire when no one does. Mark Van Doren vision simple teaching There is one thing we can do, and the happiest of people are those who do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. Mark Van Doren carpe-diem limits people Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king. Mark Van Doren kings may ideas To fail to love is not to exist at all. Mark Van Doren failing love-is love Wisdom before experience is only words; wisdom after experience is of no avail. Mark Van Doren words-of-wisdom experience The literature of the world has exerted its power by being translated. Mark Van Doren literature world When it aims to express a love of the world it refuses to conceal the many reasons why the world is hard to love, though we must love it because we have no other, and to fail to love it is not to exist at all. Mark Van Doren failing reason-why world The job of the poet is to render the world-to see it and report it without loss, without perversion. No poet ever talks about feelings. Only sentimental people do. Mark Van Doren loss jobs life I have always had the greatest respect for students. There is nothing I hate more than condescension—the attitude that they are inferior to you. I always assume they have good minds. Mark Van Doren hate mind attitude Memory performs the impossible for man by the strength of his divine arms; holds together past and present, beholding both, existing in both, abides in the flowing, and gives continuity and dignity to human life. Mark Van Doren men memories past If you look around the table and you can't tell who the sucker is, it's you. Mark Van Doren gambling tables looks A classic is a book that remains in print Mark Van Doren print classic book
